Ireland- Orders responsible for Magdalene laundries refuse to cooperate, SNAP responds
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, Director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (314 566 9790, [email protected])
The four orders that ran the Magdalene laundry laundries, The Mercy Sisters, the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, the Sisters of Charity and the Good Shepherd Sisters, have stated they will not contribute to the redress fund for the victims of their institutions. Additionally, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has stated he cannot force the orders to contribute. In response, a victims group called Magdalene Survivors Together has demanded the government eliminate the charitable status of the orders and that they receive no more state funding.
To refuse to take responsibility for decades of abuse directly related to these religious institutions is utterly disgraceful. These women are entitled justice and receiving compensation from these orders would only be scratching the surface of what is needed to begin to recover.
We urge these religious “charities” to reexamine their decisions. By blatantly dodging responsibility, they are preventing the at least 600 women from beginning to truly heal. We also encourage the state to consider the plea from Magdalene Survivors Together and revoke theses orders’ charitable status until they are willing to cooperate with the redress for the Magdalene Laundry victims. Refusing to contribute is the opposite of charitable; it is callous and selfish.
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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